1 Kings 10:23-24

"All the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart."

God uses various ways to reveal Himself to a people. International students voluntarily come to where they can hear. Refugees involuntarily come to places where they can hear. Christian soldiers may be involuntarily sent to unevangelized locations. And some people voluntarily go into all the world as missionaries. The Queen of Sheba voluntarily came to Israel, where she could hear of Yahweh, because she “heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord.” She was so impressed that she praised God, “Blessed be the Lord your God who delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel.”

Father, when people come to our country, our church, or our home, let our lives give such praise to You that they, too, will want to know You.

Sunni Muslim Arabs of the United Arab Emirates (aka, Emirates)

“...there is nothing new under the sun,” wrote King Solomon (Ec. I:9 NIV) centuries ago. But certain leaders in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are trying their best to bring about new and exciting changes to their country, dominated by their commercial capital in Dubai. Leaders in Dubai are not content to keep the status quo of the past! Their unofficial motto is: “the bigger and brasher, the better.”

Unlike the practice of emirs in the other six emirates of the UAE, Sheik Maktoum, emir of Dubai from 1990 to 2006, entrusted the day-to-day running of the government to his younger brother, Mohammed. At Maktoum’s death, his brother officially succeeded him. Mohammed has been an innovative builder of dreams-come-true, such as a sports oasis which is the Dubai Royal family’s way to prepare for the future when its oil reserves are exhausted. They hope that this indoor ski resort on desert land with artificial snow will bring in large amounts of revenue.

Though the leaders in Dubai are bringing about great financial changes, they will not tolerate religious change among the Arab Emirates who make up only 20 percent of the population in the UAE. An Emir who turns his allegiance to Christ is risking death at the hands of his family and neighbors.